July 30, 2022 4:04 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed top pick Termarr Johnson. Pittsburgh used a $7,219,000 bonus to lock down the 18-year-old infielder, going a little over slot value to make sure they inked what they consider the best hitter in the draft. Johnson hit .417 during his senior year at Mays High in Georgia and spent a few minutes smashing balls over the wall at PNC Park shortly after signing. Johnson says if he had his way he’d be in the majors as soon as possible but is confident the Pirates have the right plan in place to make sure he’s ready down the line.
July 30, 2022 4:06 am
SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners have acquired perhaps the top starting pitcher on the trade market, getting All-Star Luis Castillo from the payroll-paring Cincinnati Reds for four minor league prospects. Cincinnati obtained infielders Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo, and right-handers Levi Stoudt and Andrew Moore. Marte was the Mariners’ top-rated prospect, Arroyo was third and Stoudt fifth. Seattle has not been to the playoffs since 2001, the longest postseason drought in the four major North American pro sports.
July 29, 2022 3:51 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Kyle Schwarber hit his NL-leading 32nd home run and Zack Wheeler pitched seven strong innings as the Philadelphia Phillies built a large lead and then held on for an 8-7 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Schwarber’s three-run blast to right-center field off Zach Thompson in the sixth inning gave the Phillies a 7-0 lead. In the seventh, rookie Cal Mitchell ended Wheeler’s shutout bid with a two-run homer. The Pirates scored five times in the ninth inning. Tyler Heineman doubled in two runs and Kevin Newman followed with a two-run triple off Jeurys Familia. Seranthony Dominguez closed it out for his sixth save as Philadelphia won for the third time in four games.
July 29, 2022 3:52 am
NEW YORK (AP) – The first-place New York Mets have acquired outfielder Tyler Naquin and left-handed reliever Phillip Diehl from the Cincinnati Reds in a trade for two teenage minor leaguers. Cincinnati receives 18-year-old outfielder Hector Rodriguez and right-hander Jose Acuna. Naquin, a first-round draft pick 10 years ago, was batting .246 with seven homers and 33 RBIs in 56 games for the Reds, who are last in the NL Central. He homered and drove in two runs Thursday in a 7-6 loss to Miami. As the NL East leaders look to add offense, he provides another left-handed bat and depth in the outfield.
July 29, 2022 3:54 am
Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder testified for more than 10 hours Thursday before a congressional committee investigating the NFL team’s history of workplace misconduct. Snyder gave a deposition to the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform conducted virtually and in private. Snyder is in Israel and agreed to testify voluntarily rather than under the terms of a subpoena. The committee has the discretion to decide what, if any, information it releases from Snyder’s deposition. A transcript is expected to be available rather than any type of video.
July 28, 2022 3:43 am
BEREA, Ohio (AP) – Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson practiced on Day 1 of training camp as the Browns began preparing for the upcoming season still not knowing if he will be suspended by the NFL for violating its personal conduct policy. Watson has been accused by more than two dozen massage therapists in Texas of sexual misconduct. The three-time Pro Bowler faces possible punishment from league disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson. The retired judge who was jointly appointed by the league and NFL Players Association to handle player penalties has been weighing his case for weeks. There had been an expectation that Robinson would render her decision before camp. That didn’t happen.
July 28, 2022 3:47 am
CINCINNATI (AP) – Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor says quarterback Joe Burrow has had a successful appendectomy but there is no timetable for his return to the field. Taylor says he doesn’t expect the star quarterback to fall behind in practice. He expects Burrow to be released from the hospital Wednesday, which happened to be the first official day of workouts for the Bengals. Backups Brandon Allen and Jake Browning will take the snaps until Burrow’s return, likely in a couple of weeks.
July 28, 2022 3:45 am
NEW YORK (AP) – The AL East-leading New York Yankees made the first of what could be a flurry of moves ahead of next week’s trade deadline, acquiring All-Star outfielder Andrew Benintendi from the Kansas City Royals for three minor league pitchers. Right-handers Chandler Champlain and Beck Way went to the Royals with left-hander T.J. Sikkema. Benintendi, a 28-year-old left-handed hitter, was among 10 Royals who missed a four-game series at Toronto from July 14-17 because he was not vaccinated. New York believes he is amenable to getting vaccinated. No Yankees missed earlier trips to Toronto this season, and the Yankees have a three-game series there from Sept. 26-28. Benintendi is hitting .320 this season and a reigning Gold Glover. The Royals play at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night.
July 27, 2022 3:34 am
CHICAGO (AP) – Willson Contreras drew a standing ovation in perhaps his last home game at Wrigley Field, then keyed an early burst as the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 for their season-high sixth straight win. Contreras, one of three members left from the 2016 World Series title team, tipped his cap after being cheered at the plate his first time up. He hit a soft single in a three-run first inning. Contreras, an All-Star catcher who can become a free agent after this season, has acknowledged this might be his last homestand as a member of the Cubs before the Aug. 2 trade deadline. He saluted the fans with a fist in his last at-bat in the seventh. Representatives from the Blue Jays and White Sox were in attendance.
July 27, 2022 3:49 am
Training camps opened across the NFL and the biggest off-season question remains unanswered. The Cleveland Browns still don’t know how many games they’ll be without Deshaun Watson, who is still waiting for retired judge Sue L. Robinson to issue a ruling following his disciplinary hearing that concluded nearly four weeks ago. The league and the NFL Players’ Association requested a decision by the start of training camp, according to a person familiar with the process who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private. Robinson, who was jointly appointed by the league and the union, had no obligation to meet that deadline. Representatives are hopeful a decision comes this week.
